Album review | Various, 'Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe'

Nick Lowe's recent show in Louisville was a joy, and the spare setting - just Lowe and guitar - shone the spotlight squarely on the masterful simplicity of his writing. Songs that had originally been delivered by a full band translated seamlessly, and some actually benefited from the downsizing, proving that when you start with something that's built to last, you'll always have options.

"Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe" continues the lesson, with 13 Americana musicians and bands dipping into Lowe's deep catalog. The performances range from competent to inspired, but the real star here is Lowe, who has looked to American country music for inspiration since his days in Brinsley Schwarz.

Lowe's songs combine humor and serious emotion in a way that doesn't pander but instead creates a richer palette - the sadness cuts a little deeper next to a joke, and the humor emerges as armor. Amanda Shires gets this, and her take on "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass" cranks the despair where Lowe went for a lighter touch, but the end effect is much the same.

Many others here go down the same path - singer-songwriters are drawn to sad - giving the album a decidedly forlorn identity that clearly strays from the source material but is still entirely faithful. Lowe's sly humor has always been a saving grace, but sometimes you just want to wallow.

- Jeffrey Lee Puckett, The Courier-Journal

★ ★ ★

Louisville, Kentucky • Southern Indiana

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Album review | Various, 'Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe'

Nick Lowe's recent show in Louisville was a joy, and the spare setting ? just Lowe and guitar ? shone the spotlight squarely on the masterful simplicity of his writing.